roderick ashley architect

The Lemelson Archives and Guest Residence house the creative works of Jerome Lemelson, provide a multi-purpose space for conferences and meetings, and offer visitors a place to stay while studying the art of invention and the work of this prolific inventor.  Patents, notebooks, models and awards are on display and archived here.

 Constructed to provide opportunities to reflect upon the sheer joy of imagining and inventing, two pavilions mirror one another and bookend a simple composition engaging the surrounding serene environment and containing the immediate landscape.  Connected by a board walk floating above a graveled sculpture garden and bordered by an allée of columnar aspens, the placement of the two structures reinforces the “conversation” between the buildings and helps define limits of the garden. Simple forms and material palette, indigenous colors, and precise detailing allow the understated structures to have a rich and timeless quality in a majestic setting.

 Board-formed poured-in-place concrete rises from decomposed granite soil found throughout the site, anchoring the composition and conveying a sense of solidity and permanence.  Extremely restrictive zoning requirements defined six distinct site environmental zones and limited building area coverages in each zone.  Separating the project into smaller components allowed the project to be built with no code adjustments and consume less energy.

As one juror noted…”blends the formality of an edge with the natural world. It applies order to nature without feeling forced…”

 Awards:

Grand Award, Custom Home Magazine 2012

AIA Northwest and Pacific Region Honor Award 2011

AIA Portland Craftsmanship Award 2010

AIA Nevada Merit Award, 2009

 Publications:

Tahoe - A Visual History, Nevada Museum of Art, 2015

Custom Home Magazine, May-June 2012

Building Stone Magazine, Winter 2011

Architectural Digest, October 2010

The Wall Street Journal September 2009.

 Exhibitions:

Nevada Museum of Art, TAHOE: The Art of the Lake Tahoe Region 2015-2016

Marjorie Barrick Museum, University of Nevada at Las Vegas 2014-2015

The First Lemelson Institute for the Study of Invention & Innovation, August 2007

The Central Oregon Residence is located on 40 acres of agricultural land in Central Oregon.  A raised concrete plinth elevates three pavilions above the natural arid landscape ground plane.  Sited to take advantage of magnificent views of the Three Sisters to the west and Mount Jefferson to the north, deep overhangs and louvers shield the residence from climatic elements. Colored to blend with the surrounding landscape, the pavilions are connected to one-another by enclosed wood and glazed passageways.  Two fireplace chimneys soar above the horizontal composition and a double allee of deciduous trees runs the length of the landscape element. 

The single family residence is designed to allow the home to be partitioned into different living areas when in use.  Clad in stucco, these elements are connected by wood-clad and glazed passageways that open to the landscaped spine and views beyond.

The residence replaced a trailer that served as temporary housing on the site for years.  The open plan main pavilion has soaring 14-foot ceilings and contains the great room, comprising living space, dining room and kitchen, a master bedroom suite, offices and a powder room.  The second pavilion houses a guest suite consisting of two bedrooms, sitting room, and bathroom; and is accessed by a short stair run.  Both of these pavilions open to the landscape for outdoor living.  An art studio that can accommodate overflow guests with a fold-out bed, laundry area and two-car garage with storage are located in the third pavilion.

Central Oregon has great temperature swings throughout the year.  Twelve-foot deep overhangs on the west elevation face the main western view and shield the fully glazed main living space from the intense summer sun and heavy winter snow. This gesture creates exterior rooms that are open to the views and further protected from the sun by horizontal grillwork. Full-height glazing on the east elevation allows the residence to receive solar gain in the mornings and view the agricultural activities to the east.  In addition to window and door fenestrations to the views, the main pavilion is open internally in the north/south direction with protected clerestory glass at each end (see sections).  

The living room and master bedroom each orient themselves to a fireplace with a raised sitting hearth whose chimneys protrude as major design elements expressed on the exterior of the house. The main pavilion is transparent allowing views through the house from west and east exterior seating arrangements.  Interior finishes are mahogany floors and casework, painted drywall and some stone. 

No trees were removed during construction and the natural ground cover has been encouraged to return back to the concrete plinth rising from the ground.  The project has been planned for a future horse barn and arena to replace existing stables.  The remainder of the property is still farmed for alfalfa.  

Constructed on an abandoned logging deck high above a 650-acre FSC forest, Digger Mountain Retreat is a simple, yet innovative approach to sustainable building.  The recently replanted forest location is central to this project – a 2,400 square foot retreat designed to showcase local harvested woods, provide a conferencing area and gather extended family - while treading lightly on the site.  The result is a clear demonstration of how owner-installed technologies can lower dependence on traditional energy resources, and the retreat is within 10% of being “carbon neutral.”

 The primary design direction for the retreat was to create a sustainable project emphasizing strong indoor-outdoor connections.  Through the design process the project developed into the self-sustaining structure it is today, requiring no off-site resources when uninhabited and almost none when fully occupied. 

The site is approached via a three-mile-long existing logging road high above the Alsea River.  The plan is a simple response to program, magnificent views and available resources. Simple wood frame construction and straight-forward detailing were required from a constructability standpoint and to draw local sub-contractors to the remote project site.

The site receives just shy of 100 inches of rainfall annually and the sloping metal roof collects and diverts rainwater to three 6,000-gallon storage tanks for domestic water and fire suppression purposes.  A micro-hydro generator works well during long rainy months (and assisted in powering tools during construction).  A 32-KWhr solar array assists during the dryer long summer days.  A high efficiency biomass furnace burns forest debris and circulates hot water to heat exchangers for heating potable water and radiant floor heat. Although the retreat produces more electricity than it consumes, there is no viable way to return power to the grid.  

Awards:

Readers’ Choice Top Ten, Fine Homebuilding Magazine 2014

Publications:

Fine Homebuilding Magazine, 2014

Privacy from neighbors and access to spectacular views were paramount for the owner of this last un-built property in a planned unit development. Constructed on an extremely steep sloping site, the three-story Maple Ridge Residence has at-grade outdoor living areas accessible from upper and lower floors. Recreation amenities are available across the street. This is the third residence designed by Rod in the Havencrest development.

publication

Baan Lae Suan 40, Volume 190

The Greenleaf Road Residence is a 2,400 square foot single family residence constructed for a retiring couple that owned the property for years.  Constructed next door to the family’s residence of 40 years presented the challenge of acknowledging the owner’s intimate knowledge of the property, while expanding their vision of siting and planning the home. Their previous residence was a well- recognized home designed by a well-respected northwest architect.  Exploring the positive attributes of that home led to a new interpretation of how they lived.

Providing as much light as possible was a major goal for the owner.  Because of the dense forest, allowing sunlight to enter the site was a major challenge.   Facing a well traveled neighborhood road, privacy was provided by limited fenestrations on the front of the house, while opening the floor plan to the forest behind.  Through careful site analysis, a location was found receiving sunlight for much of the day, and few trees were removed for construction.

Built in a conservation zone, all stormwater is retained on site and the construction schedule was determined by a local building moratorium.  The two-story residence is planned for a future third story over a flat-roofed portion of the house, which would add a family room and study/library. 

 The residence is designed to showcase a native Indian basket collection and numerous works collected over many years by Northwest artists. Specific areas were designed to display the collections in living and bedroom areas so that they could be enjoyed full-time.  The formal living/dining area and garage are identical in size and volume, and separated by the kitchen and service functions.  The entry foyer and stairway attach the sleeping ‘wing’ to the rest of the house.

Awards:

House of the Year, Portland Women’s Architectural League Tour, 2003

 Exhibitions:

“Exhibit of Architecture,” AIA Portland 1999.

“Less Than 10”. AIA Portland Small Firm Roundtable Exhibit, 1998.

 Television:

Denver Electronics TV Advertisement, 2000.

Philips Electronics CD Burner TV Advertisement, 1999

The Gales Ridge Residence is a 5,200 square foot single family residence adjacent over 5,100 acres of Portland’s Forest Park, one of the largest urban forest reserves in the country.  The home takes advantage of the adjacent park, offers extreme privacy, and is oriented toward stunning views of Mt. Hood.  Construction schedules were dictated by sensitive environmental area rules and regulations, necessitating close collaboration among the architect/contractor/owner.

 Built for a professional couple looking to daily escape the hectic medical world they work in, the residence provides a calm retreat offering quiet for contemplation and rejuvination.  Located on a downward sloping site, the three-story residence is accessed via a long tree-lined gravel drive leading to a U-shaped auto court.  The act of driving down the driveway quickly allows one to leave the fast-paced city behind and to enter the quiet nature of the property.  The adjacent forest is home to many animals often seen on-site.

Three simple rectangular bars contain a one-story skylight lit garage, the exercise amenities wing and lap pool, and the three story living/bedroom wing.  A four car garage for an automobile collector is connected to the main house via a hallway physically opening to workout areas and spa on one side and visually opening to the exterior lap pool adjacent the house.  Formal and informal living areas flank a dining room on the main level.  A large kitchen with informal seating accesses a private deck and large entertaining patio.  A master bedroom suite, office with exterior deck, and small sitting area overlooking the two-story living room are located upstairs.  Guest bedrooms, family room, darkroom and storage are have access to natural grade downstairs.  All living areas share exceptional views of the forest and Mt Hood.

 A combination of vertical wood and stucco siding clad the residence, and are used to distinguish and differentiate elements of the composition.  Both native vegetation and specimen planting have been introduced to co-mingle in the serene setting.

Exhibitions:

“Exhibit of Architecture,” AIA Portland 1999.

“Less Than 10”. AIA Portland Small Firm Roundtable Exhibit, 1998.

The Riverstone Condominium is a 2,600 square foot loft space designed to house a substantial art and furniture collection in the Pearl District.  Two separate units were combined which provided this unique penthouse with daylight from all four compass directions.  The large living space is one room with surfaces designated for displaying larger art objects.  Three bedrooms and study were designed to each be unique and yet blend with one-another and house smaller works of art.

The owner request for retaining high ceilings made a case for dropping soffits to hide utility duct runs, which in turn helped to define individual spaces.   Window blinds and lighting scenes are automated, allowing complete aesthetic and comfort control of the space.  Simple detailing allowed the volume and not the architecture dominate the living areas.

Two bedrooms and one of the bathrooms have walls sheathed in cloth covered panels.  The kitchen is mostly stainless steel and the island is a prominent feature in the living area.  Quarter sawn natural maple flooring throughout provides both continuity and brings warmth into the spaces.  Large expanses of cabinets are painted wood to match wall surfaces and become less conspicuous while providing a vast amount of storage. 

 Several site specific pieces of art were commissioned.  A dichroic glass sculpture installed above library bookshelves is illuminated by programming lighting which continually changes colors and patterns reflected on the walls and ceiling.  A delicate glass sculpture is mounted above a custom steel bench with up-lighting to illuminate the art.  A custom work desk in the study, art pedestals, and bedroom furniture were also designed specifically for this space.

 Entertaining in the space is a delight with the kitchen being such a central part of the activity.  Sit-down dinner parties for as many as fifty seemed natural for the relatively small area.  With all areas bathed in natural light, the character of the spaces constantly change throughout the day, making the condominium a piece of artwork itself.

Removing walls and one bedroom to expand the spacial experience was paramount in renovating the Metropolitan Condominium. Living activities share non-private area and feel much more spacious than prior to the remodel. The kitchen has an illuminated onyx backsplash and the dining room a source of wall washing from lighting in the floor that provides enough light at night to illuminate the living areas. Places for artwork and sculpture were crafted on walls and in niches.

Metropolitan Two is a 1,200 square foot conversion from a live/work space into a gallery/library with accommodations for overnight stay.  A new sleeping alcove is concealed behind a new library wall and a more efficient kitchenette for catering was constructed.  The size of the main living space was determined by the dimensions of a rug that was being brought to the space from another property.  Site specific artwork along with long cherished pieces are on display.  A custom table and furniture complete the composition.

 Located within Portland’s Brooklyn neighborhood, City Life Row Houses is a statewide-winning design for a show demonstrating different affordable urban housing types.   One of three components of an innovative, affordable development for first-time homebuyers, the 18-unit, medium-density, mixed-income in-fill project was the first in-fill project of its kind to hold a design competition sponsored by the American Institute of Architects Portland, and subsequently holding a show of homes sponsored by the American Homebuilders Association. 

Dubbed “City Life,” the project was unique in Portland. It turned vacant, inner-city land into mixed income, transit-oriented, medium density housing for new homeowners. This first homeownership project responded to the need for housing that could accommodate the growing population without expanding Portland’s Urban Growth Boundary.  The client (REACH) added the goal of half the homes needing to be affordable to lower income first-time buyers.

Four three-bedroom and two four-bedroom units were built with limited budgets and simple construction methods.  The design was based on separating six lots with garden walls and providing outdoor space for living along both the rear and one side of the units.  The site is adjacent a public school playground to the west and a light industrial area to the east. Flat roofs respect the industrial development feel from the street behind and pitched roofs and bevel siding blend with the existing neighborhood vernacular.  Passageways lead from the entry to the private garden spaces, eliminating the “solid wall effect” experienced from the street.

 Awards:

AIA Northwest and Pacific Region Honor Award  (Row Houses) 1996

AIA Northwest and Pacific Region Honor Award  (City Life) 1996

AIA Portland Citation Award (City Life) 1995

AIA Portland Award of Excellence (Row Houses) 1994

 Publications:

City of Portland Guide to Integrating Infill Development into Portland’s Neighborhoods, December 2008

The Governor’s Livability Awards Honoring Quality Development in Oregon 1995-2001

Livable Oregon, June 2001 

City Club of Portland Report “Increasing Density in Portland,” November 1999

U.S. Department of HUD Development Building Innovation for Homeownership, 1998

 Exhibitions:

A Portland General Electric Urban Show of Homes, Portland, OR 1995

Located on the Willamette River in an older established neighborhood, the Landing Condominium was the last empty unit to be built-out in the building complex. A showcase for an eclectic collection of furniture and Northwest art, opportunities for capturing daylight were critical for this client. The design provided no full height walls parallel to windows at both ends of the space, allowing natural light to penetrate deep into the long rectangular space. Living areas are luminous during the day (requiring no artificial lighting), with a warm glow at night.

Cabinetry or glass block walls provide separation and privacy. Doors are opaque glass allowing penetration of light from room to room. Dropped ceiling soffits provide space for heating and air conditioning ducts while providing visual separation of living areas. A white maple floor rests on top of a thick sound barrier. A patio on this second story unit overlooks the Willamette River with views to Mt. Hood beyond.

Rod has now designed almost one-half the units in the complex.

Publication

Baan Lae Suan 40, Volume 180

Exhibition

Portland Art Museum “ART TREK”

Television

HGTV Episode #244

The Royal Court Residence Remodel and Addition is a remodel of a two-story Dutch Colonial home in an older, well established neighborhood in Northeast Portland.  A young professional couple with two children originally wanted to finish an unoccupied attic space into a master bedroom. 

Design goals respected the existing character of the neighborhood, the appearance of the house from the street, and a limited construction budget.  Vertical expansion was not possible and horizontal expansion was kept to a minimum so as to not encroach into an already small rear garden area.  Careful analysis and understanding of the owner’s simple program allowed all bedrooms to remain on the second floor and a family room and study not in the original program to be inserted into the attic area on the third floor.

 Rather than mimic the style of the original house, a combination of old and new comfortably exists.  Horizontal siding matches the original house with original sash windows and doors occurring on existing wall planes and contemporary windows and doors on new wall planes.  Original interior walls are painted a neutral tint and new walls rich accents selected by the owner to enhance newness in an “old container.”  A second floor glass block wall is a major design element that also brings natural light further into the plan layout.

 Awards:

Metropolitan Home Magazine Home of the Year Runner-Up, 1986

 Publications:

“Adding on,” Rodale Press 1995

Northwest Magazine April 13, 1986

Sunset Remodeling Ideas for More Living Space April 1986

Metropolitan Home March 1986

Ortho Books How to Plan and Design Additions 1986

Sunset Remodeling Ideas for More Living Space 1986 

New Shelter October 1985

Money Guide/Your Home 1985

Sunset May 1985

Homeowner Magazine July/August 1984

The Lemelson Foundation uses the power of invention to improve lives, by inspiring and enabling the next generation of inventors and invention-based enterprises to promote economic growth in the US, and social and economic progress for the poor in developing countries. The first permanent offices were constructed at the LEED Gold EcoTrust building incubator spaces in Northwest Portland.  The Foundation had yet to hire a full-time director and the new office space was designed for two potential work staff. 

Two separated offices opened onto a small waiting area with display and enclosed storage. One office had a larger work space that doubled as a conference room, separated from the waiting area by a large glass wall.  Transparency was paramount in this small space. The two arched exterior windows drove the plan layout and the exposed wood ceiling structure and fire sprinkler pipe add to an “incubator space” feel in the space. Cabinetry is constructed from stained particle wheat board.

The Lemelson Foundation uses the power of invention to improve lives, by inspiring and enabling the next generation of inventors and invention-based enterprises to promote economic growth in the US, and social and economic progress for the poor in developing countries.

 Within several years and after several expansions at the original offices in the Ecotrust Building, the Foundation outgrew their offices and became partners in the construction of the LEED Platinum renovation of Mercy Corps’ Global Headquarters in the historic Packer-Scott building. 

 Working to integrate into the development fabric of Mercy Corps, the original concept of placing all closed offices and rooms away from window walls was felt to be too much of a departure from tenant improvements occurring in the rest of the building, and a more traditional approach of placing enclosed offices along the window wall was pursued.  In an effort to bring more natural light into the space, office doors are glazed and display/storage units separating offices from public spaces have etched glass relites giving a transparent feel to the space and providing an illuminated backdrop for the display of items that have been produced through grants from the Foundation.  Most furniture is reused from previous offices and a new custom reception desk and privacy screen was built.

Etched glass panels displaying over 600 patents received by Jerome Lemelson are installed on top of storage cabinets to provide further separation between work and public areas.

When Mercy Corps staff was growing, the organization was expanding wherever they could and the Lemelson Foundation offered to move from their office headquarters. The latest Foundation offices are located in the penthouse of a four story building in northwest Portland. The single tenant space was designed to take advantage of daylight and views from all four exterior walls, and to accommodate the large custom designed conference table from the previous office space.

Most custom cabinets were repurposed from the previous office and the patent number glass dividers were reused to help separate the work space from the more public spaces.

The Washington County Residence is a 2,400 square foot residence and two-car garage with a 600 square foot attached art studio. Constructed primarily of poured-in-place concrete walls, the one-story home evokes the character of a loft-type warehouse structure. The owner wished to have a project that was not dated by its appearance and that would require little maintenance.

Public and private spaces share views into the rear garden courtyard. Non concrete walls are sheathed in Shou Sugi Ban wood siding. Landscaping to be completed in Spring/Summer 2019.

This Net-Zero Residence was designed to be constructed on an infill property behind a traditional four-square residence in southeast Portland. The site was partitioned from a larger adjacent property and was accessed via a private street.

The two story residence stepped down from the west to a one story structure to minimize the impact on the existing residence. A south facing sloped roof allows an excellent solar orientation and also collects rainwater for irrigation. The flat one story eco-roof assists with on-site storm water collection.

A Japanese Maple tree was transplanted from the new residence location to reside in the future street facing courtyard and would become a major design element connecting the new home back into the existing neighborhood and giving a sense of timelessness to the project